Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-10-14
The Percussion Shells.
BY W. O. sToDDARD.

landall, said the Colonel of az
~ to the red-faced young man be-
him, "these are what I wish to
delivered first. You must exer-
great care in handling them. They
OF go off easily, but small tap
here will explode Them"
is finger was on the nose Of three
percussion shell as he spoke. 1t
very neatly finished affair, of a
pattern: from which important re-
were expected by artillerists.
shells were to explode on strik-
and scatter everything in front of
ina thoroughly scientific manner.
Wright, SIR" said Randall. well
Them out on the levee as fast as we
aad the ammunition wagons can
for Them"
III not send any until you report a
Gent number of shell ready for
sportation.
All right, SIR" said Randall, as he
he'd his hat and marched out of the
bnel's quarters; but he added to
self:
They're little the worst-looking
ii machines I ever saw. I shall be
when the last of them are on the
e."
E was mate of one OF the smallest
lclad "turtle-back" gunboats of the
issippi squadron, and had been
lied in charge Of an ammunition
(e or 'powderboat." She had been
ID down the river, with full cargo,
nov lay with her head against the
at the powder landing" between
e and four miles above Memphis.
was early in the fourth year Of the
war, and it was well understood
great deal Of ammunition would
be required.
hour or so later, Randall stood
Is post upon the stern of the barge,
hing a score OF "roustabouts, :"
were going and coming, busily
Logged in removing the percussion
Is called for by the Colonel.
Fery man OF them was deeply i'm
sed with the solemnity of the work
Fas doing, and was visibly afraid of
burden he brought up from the
OF the barge. All the customary
ting and singing had subsidized into
eflttlng gravity. There were no
gers on the levee. for the sentries
ed at suitable distances prevented
approach of unauthorized persons.
Pther craft of any sort was moored
the barge which contained so
tons OF compressed powder and
be ridge of the levee was many feet
g the river level. and was already
with the terrible cylinders, whose
11ndlmmed copper glistened in the
Yearly DONE" said Randall, aloud,
I'm glad of it. Can't say I've
nerves to speak of, but I'd rather
q hundred loads of mere powder
PRIMARY shell. / don't like those
gs."
glanced down at the muddy tor
OF the Mississippi, rushing by in
race haste, and added:
be safer in the middle of the
than l am here"
was undoubtedly man CT cour-
ana his nerves were such as fitted
lor his present duty, but lie was
Ne to PIT away from him a strong
OF the lonely peril of his post.
lier could he avoid kind of vague
llallon of the enormous destruc-
forces chained in the cargo con-
~ by the deck he stood upon.
amp tramp, tramp, with somber
'i1ess, the athletic "roustabouts"
Town the companion-way or came
saln' each, in turn, bearing one or
u the new explosives. These did
make an unduly heavy shoulder.
Spo there was no apparent dan
an accident. The veteran artil-
,t"h' down in the hold, who super
tue1 the picking up and shoulder
N"o been ceaseless in his admoni
ana every shell had been lifted
s'o Ilear understanding that, as one
s,'about" expressed IT.:
should sneeze, de shell would
q "a advantage and go off,"
;""nsport steamer coming down
ner seemed to sheer away from
Io%uer landing" as if it were q
:" De stunned; and Randall may
zen justified in saying that
ny snlIs fly high over it, and even
e wouldn't light on dead